Your lifestyle is being challenged or changed.  You are aware of the limitations of a given philosophy as you act it out in your daily life.  Your communication patterns may be in flux as a result of feedback from others.  You could be adjusting (editing) something you've written or said.

The number 5 represents that added something that brings the situation out of balance again.  It represents the struggle and challenge of inner and outer growth.  The suit of Swords is associated with  reason, thought, logic, will, courage, verbal skill, matters pertaining to the mind, communication and the element of air.  This is a card of struggle, of dealing with intellectual cruelty and taunts. 

The Universal Fantasy 5 of Swords shows a rather bizarre image of a man striding through a medieval style town.  His armor appears to be a castle with swords sticking out.  He face is just visible behind the castle gates and he holds a sword in his left hand.  He reminds me of a Transformer.  His body and the castle are one.  I'm not sure what his message is.  Is he trying to break free of the responsibilities of protecting the castle?  Has the castle defeated him or has he defeated it?  It's a fairly complex and confusing image.  The overwhelming sense I get from this card is a sense of defeat and yet entrapment.  He might be the great defender of the town but he is buried and trapped by these responsibilities.  He cannot break free so even if he defeats others, he is never truly free of his duties to the town.

The Ma'at 5 of Swords shows 3 young gentlemen in Renaissance garb playing cards.  It is obviously that two of the men are in cahoots together to cheat the third man.  One is looking at the youngsters cards and signaling his partner while the partner is pulling a playing card from behind his back.  They may ultimately win the card game but their dishonest means and disreputable behavior shows that they have no integrity.  Their actions show that winning the game is more important to them than their own honor.  Four swords hang on the wall behind the players and a fifth sword hovers in the air above them.  Something about this sword suggests that although the cheaters may win this contest, they will ultimately be forced to pay the consequences of this behavior.  The sword seems to be hanging in the air just waiting for one false move so that it can cut something.  Or perhaps the sword is admiring their ingenuity and smarts.  After all anyone who agrees to gamble should be aware that there is a good chance the odds are against him or her.  So if these two were able to find a way to make the odds work for them, isn't that to be admired?  I suppose how you respond to this image depends on whether you've been cheated before.

Today was actually a relatively peaceful day.  It was nasty outside and the rain kept us from wanting to really do anything.  The one way this card connected to my experiences today was as it pertains to my mom-in-law.  We spent a few hours at her house.  That always makes her feel better but the reality is that it can be very difficult too.  She is so different from the women she was even 5 years ago that it's sad.  Her mind is starting to go.  I don't believe it's Alzheimer's or dementia.  I think she's lonely and doesn't really have anyone to talk to.  I think her communication skills and thought processes are deteriorating from lack of use.  They are atrophying like a muscle that doesn't' get used enough.  Other than hubby and I she really doesn't have any visitors and she really doesn't leave the house much.  We're trying to change it but that's a tough battle. 

In general aging in this society can be a cruel and heartless struggle.  Society is set up in such a way that the family resources that were once available to make an older person feel honored and valued are no longer in place.  The children move away and rarely visit.  Elderly people often do not see their grandchildren and once their friends, spouse and siblings have passed on their social circle becomes increasingly smaller.  It's further complicated by the fact that medical science has progressed to such a degree that the body can be kept functioning well after its expiration date.  The term "quality of life" is tossed around a lot but I watched my father-in-law die a lingering death because medical technology couldn't cure him but it could stabilize him for a few more months.  He wasn't able to do any of the things he used to but he was alive.  Sometimes we wonder if taking him to the hospital was he right thing to do.  And now we're watching my mother-in-law waste away simply because she's lonely.  It just sucks and there are no winners in this situation.  We may feel victorious because our technology has made it possible for us to live longer and look younger while we do it but we're still aging.  I often wonder if it's worth it.  Do we enjoy the longer life?  I have no idea but no matter how much longer our lifespans may be, death is the ultimate winner of this game.